Was Hamlet Justified In His Pursuit For Revenge?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The need to adhere to his father's ghost justifies the revenge mission that Hamlet undertakes in the play. The ghost commands Hamlet to revenge his father's “foul and most unnatural ” (Shakespeare 37). Hamlet is

justified to obey the ghost and kill Claudius

, who killed King Hamlet, the prince's father.

What reasons does Hamlet give to justify his need for revenge?

Hamlet seeks revenge

because he is informed by the ghost of King Hamlet, his father, that his brother Claudius poured poison in his ear and killed him

.

Is Hamlet's actions justified?


Hamlet is not justified by treating Gertrude the way he did

. Gertrude said that Hamlet has offended his new stepfather by the play that he put on (to find out if Claudius actually did kill the king). … Hamlet then says that his mother has offended his real father (King Hamlet) and completely intimidates her.

Is Hamlet seeking justice or revenge?

Hamlet cannot seek his father's revenge until he has sufficient proof that Claudius has murdered him; clearly, at this stage of the play, Hamlet is

seeking justice

as he cannot bear the thought of murdering an innocent man.

Do you think Hamlet was justified in putting off killing Claudius?

Finally, at the end of the play,

Hamlet remains unable to decide

whether killing Claudius is morally justifiable, asking himself: “Is ‘t not perfect conscience?” (V. ii.). Hamlet consistently reasons his way out of committing violence, suggesting that he is conditioned to be a thinker rather than a man of action.

Why is revenge justified?

However,

if the victim of the crime believes the system has brought proportionate punishment upon the criminal

, then the individual has also been avenged. Since both the state and victim have achieved appropriate retribution, the act can be considered justified revenge.

Is Hamlet in love with Ophelia?

It is likely that

Hamlet really was in love with Ophelia

. Readers know Hamlet wrote love letters to Ophelia because she shows them to Polonius. … He professes his love for Ophelia again to Laertes, Gertrude, and Claudius after Ophelia has died, saying, “I loved Ophelia.

What does Hamlet say about revenge?

Commanded by his father's ghost in Act 1 to ‘Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder' by his brother Claudius, who has robbed him of his wife and throne as well as his life, Hamlet swears that

‘with wings as swift / As meditation, or the thoughts of love

,' he will ‘sweep to [his] revenge' (1.5.25, 29–31).

Is Hamlet obsessed with revenge?

Hamlet's obsession with

taking revenge destroys the relationships in his life

. … Another instance of obsession to revenge is Laertes. He becomes so bent upon avenging his family, that he does not think clearly. Claudius deceives Laertes by persuading him into killing Hamlet so that he remains out of harm's way.

What are the 3 revenge plots in Hamlet?

However, in Hamlet there are three main characters who are seeking revenge.

First off, Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes

all want revenge for the deaths of their fathers. The revenge plot that should be focused on the most is that of Hamlet. … Hamlet plans to watch King Claudius' reaction to the play, Murder of Gonzago.

Who suffered the greatest injustice in Hamlet?

In Hamlet,

Polonius

is an example of injustice because he exploited his daughter, Ophelia, for his own personal gain in power and status.

Does Hamlet believe in fate?

Introduction. Hamlet believes that

there is an ultimate fate destined for every person on Earth

. … He believes that fortune will throw whatever circumstances it will at you (Hamlet seeing the ghost) and all human beings can do is be ready to act or react to it (his decision to kill King Claudius).

How does Fortinbras get revenge in Hamlet?

Fortinbras gets revenge

by getting the land that his father lost to Hamlet Sr.

This is an example of how illogical revenge could be, that men would lose their lives over a piece of land that is only worth its name.

Why does Gertrude think Hamlet is mad?

Queen Gertrude, who is Hamlet's mother, speculates that the cause of this disturbance may be

that he is in love with Ophelia, daughter of Polonius

. This would be a very unequal match for a Prince of Denmark. The Queen then enlists Ophelia's aid in helping discern Hamlet's mental state.

Why this is hire and salary not revenge?

To heaven. Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. With

all his crimes broad blown

, as flush as May; And how his audit stands who knows save heaven.

Did Hamlet sleep with his mother?


No, Hamlet did not sleep with his mother

. There's no evidence in the text to suggest that he did. However, this hasn't stopped successive generations of literary scholars from using Freud's concept of the Oedipus complex to put forward the notion of an incestuous relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.